U.S. Education Department denies a Utah-based for-profit college’s application to change its tax status.

Inside Higher Ed reports.

Department of Education denies for-profit college’s application for nonprofit status

The U.S. Department of Education on Thursday denied a request by a Utah-based for-profit college chain to convert to nonprofit status for federal financial aid purposes.

The decision means the Center for Excellence in Higher Education, which operates four colleges in six states as well as an online degree program, will have to continue to meet financial aid and accountability rules targeted at for-profits. It also continues a trend in recent actions by the department to implement stronger consumer protections, many of them specifically aimed at for-profit institutions.